Regulating apparatus for car&#39;s window

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to a car side window lifting mechanism, and more particularly to a mechanism for moving up or down, as so desired, a triangular window glass positioned in front of a side window of a car, in synchronized relation with said side window glass. The triangular window can be turned or revolved laterally in the opening direction only from the inside of the car when said triangular window is in its upper limit position. The turning or revolving of the window in the closing direction can be practiced either from the inside or from the outside of the car, and both the opening and the closing of said triangular window can be performed by &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;one-touch&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; (or single-step) operation. The operating lever and other means used in the mechanism are arranged so as not to project from the wall face of the apparatus, and also the operation of these means is easy and simplified.

United States Patent Tsurumi REGULATING APPARATUS FOR CAR'S WINDOW [72] Inventor: Sukeo Tsurumi, 574-62 Nina, Minoo-shi,

Osaka, Japan [22] Filed: Feb. 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 15,052

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 11, 1969 Japan ..44/27700 [52] U.S.Cl .49/144,49/163,49/333 [51] Int.Cl. ..B60j 1/14 [58] Field of Search ..49/48, 163, 144, 168471, 49/333, 335; 74/54 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,069,102 1/1937 Thunder ..49/144 2,138,838 12/1938 Carr ....49/144 2,232,184 2/1941 Morrison ....49/l44 3,495,356 2/1970 Tsurumi ..49/333 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 519,163 3/1940 Great Britain ..49/144 Primary Examiner.l. Karl Bell An0rneyPolachek & Saulsbury [57] ABSTRACT The present invention relates generally to a car side window lifting mechanism, and more particularly to a mechanism for moving up or down, as so desired, a triangular window glass positioned in front of a side window ofa car, in synchronized relation with said side window glass. The triangular window can be turned or revolved laterally in the opening direction only from the inside of the car when said triangular window is in its upper limit position. The turning or revolving of the window in the closing direction can be practiced either from the inside or from the outside of the car, and both the opening and the closing of said triangular window can be performed by one-touch (or single-step) operation. The operating lever and other means used in the mechanism are arranged so as not to project from the wall face of the apparatus, and also the operation of these means is easy and simplified.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 3,636,557 1 1 Jan. 25, 1972 PATENTEnmzsmz 3.636.651

SHEET 1 0F 3 v INVENTOR 5 UKEO 730mm;

BY WW7 ATTORNEY PATENTED M25 @912 3536, 57

sum 2 or 3 INVENTOR Sumo 73uRuM:

BY WW7 ATTORNEY PATENTEUJANZSIQTZ- $636,657

sum 3 or 3 INVENTOR SuKEo Tsu/wm ATTORNEY REGULATING APPARATUS FOIR CAR'S WINDOW This invention relates to an improved window mechanism for integrating the opening arid closing operation and the general lifting operation of the windows on both sides of a car and the triangular windows positioned in front of them.

In most of the conventional cars, the triangular windows mounted in the front doors, although usually revolvable horizontally by themselves, can not be lifted up and down along with the side windows. Particularly in a sports car, no such triangular window is mounted because of the necessity to maximize the field of vision and to facilitate the driving operation, although the driver feels inconvenience in rainy weather if no such triangular window is provided. In some cars, in hopes of obtaining the same effect as the triangular window, a ventilation air duct is used, but such duct tends to collect dust in its inside so that when the valve is opened to communicate said duct with the inside of the car, dust may be scattered about in the interior of the car, thus causing unlooked-for hazards to the driver.

In a car in general, no matter whether it is a passenger car or a sports car, utility of such front triangular window is still highly appraised, and there has been strong demand in the industries for development of an improved triangular window device which does not limit the maximum field of vision and does not cause retardation of manipulation or other impediments.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved window mechanism which allows a small triangular window at the side front of a car to be lifted up and down integrally with the adjacent side window and in which said triangular window is arranged to be movable for lateral opening and closing only when it is in its upper limit position.

It is another object of the present invention to obtain a window mechanism characterized by the facts that the juncture between a triangular window at the side front of a car and the adjacent side window is of a frameless construction so as to eliminate obstruction to vision which may otherwise be caused by provision of such triangular window, and that the lateral opening of said triangular window can be exercised only from the inside of the car while the lateral closing thereof can be made either from the inside or from the outside of the car, both by a one-touch (or single-step) operation.

Still another object of the present invention is to obtain a window mechanism having a unique construction in which a triangular windowpane of a car and the adjacent side windowpane can be pulled down simultaneously and integrally into a door panel to provide a sporty car appearance.

It is yet another object of the present invention to obtain a window mechanism in which the lateral opening of the triangular window and the handling of the closing lock can be performed by a single operation by manipulating an operating lever, while the closing of said closing lock can be achieved manually, too, either from the inside or from the outside of the car.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an improved window mechanism comprising the improvements that the transparent pane of the triangular window can be shaped in various configurations and integrated with the transparent pane of the adjacent side window to thereby realize simplification and weight reduction of the window assembly; perfect fastening of said both transparent panes is assured by closing lock means; and the juncture between said both panes is guaranteed against looseness and is so constructed as to improve visibility for the driver.

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of the window mechanism according to the present invention as it was seen from the inside ofthe door;

FIG. 2 is a fragmental perspective view showing the construction of the triangular window supporting section in the above-said mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a transparent pane of the triangular window according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a general view as taken from the inside of the door of the car;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the triangular window opening and closing lever assembly and showing a manner in which said lever assembly is operated;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the triangular window opening and closing lever assembly and a slide roller assembly;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the triangular window opening and closing lever assembly, showing the component parts of the assembly;

FIG. 8 is a fragmental perspective view of another embodiment of the triangular window opening and closing means where a pushbutton system mechanism is employed; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view as taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

This invention, as already mentioned above, relates to the improvements in the opening and closing mechanism of side windows including smaller triangular windows for a car. The devised construction of the mechanism will become more apparent from the following description as taken with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to the present invention, as apparent particularly from FIG. 1, the top portion 16 of a sash frame 13 is directly secured to the top edge of a transparent door windowpane 11 to thereby revolvably mount a transparent triangular windowpane 12 in front of said side door windowpane 11, and a base frame 31 secured to the bottom portion 15 of said sash frame 13 is also secured to a holder 32 joined to said transparent door windowpane 11. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, said sash frame 13 has fitted therein a transparent triangular windowpane 12 having an upper hinged section 14 and a lower hinged section 20 where a pivot shaft 18 is received. Said transparent pane 12, as in the conventional devices, can be turned or revolved horizontally, and a suitable elastic packing I0 is provided along the juncture between said pane l2 and the sash frame 13.

In an embodiment where no such sash frame 13 is used, hinged joints may be mounted directly to an extension of the door windowpane 11. The edge 19 of said triangular windowpane 12, which abuts on the door windowpane II, and the other edge 17 of the pane 12, which abuts on the sash frame 13, are both constructed to form a step therealong to thereby assure close and intimate joints, and the hinged sections 14 and 20 serving as pivots are thickened and formed integral with the pane 12 to thereby realize solidity and compactness of the assembly. The construction of this assembly is best shown in FIG. 3. If need be, a rain drip may be formed integrally. The preferred material for the transparent panes used in the present invention is synthetic resin, particularly glass fiber-reinforced acrylic resin which has excellent transparency, impact resistance, heat resistance and workability.

The juncture between the transparent panes 11 and 12 of the triangular window and the side door window, respectively, is so designed as to provide an airand watertight conjunction owing to the stepped edge construction 19, and also consideration is paid to obtain the maximum range of vision and high transparency.

The door windowpane l l operated integrally with the triangular windowpane 11 is secured to the holder 32 by means of a stop bolt 38, and the following enumerated parts are provided on a steel panel in the inside of the door: stabilizers 39 such as shown in FIG. 1, a run channel 37 provided in abutment with the roller assembly 30 mounted on the frame 31 as shown in FIG. 6, a run channel 36 provided in abutment with another roller assembly (not shown) mounted on a rear frame 33 of the door windowpane 11, a baseplate 40 for a window regulator, a guide rail 42 for an auxiliary arm 35, etc. The structural arrangement of these parts will be understood by referring to I FIG. 1.

dowpane integrated with the triangular windowpane 12, thus effecting the opening or closing of the door window.

In a window-closed condition where the window mechanism has been lifted up to its upper limit position, when it is desired to open or close the triangular window alone, one may pull, in a certain predetermined direction with a fingertip, the end of a lever 21 adapted to revolve the pivot 18 of the triangular window, whereby the triangular window will be forced to pivot horizontally centering about the hinged sections 14 and 20 and will be thereby opened. When pressing force of the fingertip is released, the lever 21 will return to the original position by the action of a return spring 61.

The revolving of the triangular window in its closing direction can be practiced manually by directly handling the triangular window.

Now, the triangular window pivoting mechanism of the present invention will be explicated. It is to be noted here that this pivoting mechanism is an adaptation from a similar mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 734,104 tiled on June 3,1968.

As best illustrated in FIGS. and 7, the pivot 18 of the triangular window has its end fitted into a slot 63 at the top of an elastic cylindrical connector element 26 and secured therein by a pin 66 passed through a pinhole 64. In an opening 65 formed at the bottom of said connector element 26 is fitted the upper end of a camshaft 27. The opposed offset side faces of a cam 25 are so shaped as to embrace the respective rollers 24, and the lever 21 is so arranged that its rotation in a direction where the rollers 24 are pushed by the respective fork clicks 23 can be transmitted, and that in the opposite direction, it is rotated idly and automatically returned to the original position by the action of a return spring 61.

Due to the fact that the pinhole 64 in said connector element 26 is so adapted as to form a clearance around the pin 66 when it is fitted in said hole, and also due to the fact that the connector element 26 itself has sufficient elasticity, desired assemblage and coupling can be achieved with ease without causing any trouble in operation even if slight errors in connection should be produced in the center of the pivot 18 and the camshaft 27.

Although, in an embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a projection 28 is formed on a plate having the forked clicks 23 and a semicircular groove 29 arranged to slidably receive said projection therein is formed on the front side of the lever 21, it is also possible to form a projection on the lever 21 and a receiving groove on the plate.

When the lever 21 is pulled in one direction with a finger to turn it to the chain-lined positions successively in the manner shown in FIG. 5, the forked clicks 23 will push the respective rollers 24 to release the wedging engagement of the rollers, thus allowing the cam 25 to rotate in that direction to thereby open the triangular window. However, the triangular window wont be opened by direct manual operation without using said lever 21, because the cam 25 is actuated in a direction toward which the rollers 24 are pressed on the offset side faces of said cam, and the small springs 62 between the cam 25 and the rollers 24 act briskly to conduce to the wedging action, thus constituting a locked condition between the cam assembly and the inner face of a cylindrical wheel 22 which serves as a main control of rotation.

The closing of the open triangular window can be achieved either from the inside of from the outside of the car, simply by manually pushing the window whereby it is easily turned closed with no wedging action of the cam 25 being produced. Thus, the present window mechanism is characteristically constructed such that the opening of the triangular window can be performed from the inside of the car by simple operation of the lever 21 while the closing thereof can be achieved manually from both inside and outside of the car, thereby to assure security against burglary and to conduce to more convenient utilization of the triangular windows and safety in handling thereof.

In still another embodiment of the triangular window rotation-controlling mechanism shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a combination ofa ratchet 51 and a pawl 52 is used instead of a cam. In this embodiment, for opening the triangular window, one may push down a pushbutton 54, with a coil spring 53 being kept in a tightened conditions (this can be effected by closing the triangular window), whereby the pawl 52 is released out of its engagement with the ratchet 51 and the triangular window pane 12 is forced to pivot into the opened position by the repulsive force of the tightened coil spring 53. For closing said triangular window, the same manual operation as said before may be employed, whereby the reverse rotation of the ratchet 51 is caused to allow free revolving motion of the window in its closing direction.

The present invention also contemplates utilization of a coiled stopper spring which may be provided in the inside of a window regulator stopper 43 shown in FIG. 1.

A variety of different constructions for embodying in other ways the above-described triangular window opening mechanism and its manual closing techniques may be considered within the scope of the conception of the present invention, and as a source of driving power therefor, it is also possible to employ an electric motor or an interlocked mechanism connected thereto.

Downward movement of the triangular windowpane 12 of the present invention is checked until it is brought into a perfectly closed position. Therefore, the window regulator handle 41 won't be rotated in a door-lifting down direction, and also the rotation-controlling lever 21 is kept in its original position, where the door opening is commenced, by its automatic returning action, and its rotation in the door-opening direction is effected idly until the triangular window is perfectly closed. Among the above-mentioned systems for attaining desired junction of the transparent pane 12 in its closed position, most preferred is a system employing a cam mechanism because it is possible with this mechanism to assure solid support without causing any looseness and to maintain perfect airand watertightness.

The window mechanism of the present invention, as viewed above, is designed to make best use of a triangular window and to allow housing thereof along with the adjacent side windowpane in a door panel, whenever so desired.

The present mechanism, in case of using a power regulator and other adjunctive means, will prove even more convenient and useful if provided with safety devices such as a contact switch means adapted to inhibit an electric circuit connected to the lifting down mechanism from being closed until the triangular windowpane l2 completes its closing stroke.

The triangular window mechanism according to the present invention can be applied to a passenger-type car as well as to a sporty-type car, and provision of the mechanism does not cause any obstruction to visibility and proves particularly useful for ventilation and giving and receiving of small articles with a person outside of the car. Further, the triangular window can be closed manually from the outside of the car, but once it is closed, it won t be opened manually from the outside of the car, so that the car is made burglarproof. Thus, the present invention has realized noticeable improvements in utility of the car window mechanism.

What is claimed is:

l. A window mechanism for lifting up and down the windowpanes on both sides of a car, in which a triangular windowpane positioned at the side front of a car is coupled, together with an adjacent side windowpane, to a lifting mechanism mounted in a door panel, and said triangular window is arranged pivotable laterally so as to be opened or closed, only when it is in its upper limit position, in which said triangular window is of a frameless construction, and the joined edges of the transparent triangular windowpane and of the adjacent transparent side windowpane are fitted to each other in a stepped edged manner, and in which the transparent panes of the triangular windows and of the side windows adjacent thereto are made of a transparent and rigid synthetic resin material.

2. A window mechanism for lifting up and down the windowpanes on both sides of a car, comprising a frame having secured thereto the bottom portion a triangular windowpane positioned in front of a side windowpane of a car, said frame being also coupled to a side windowpane holder, a roller assembly abutting on a front run channel, another roller assembly in a rear frame coupled to said holder, said another roller being arranged to abut on a rear run channel, a window regulator operable with a handle to lift up or down said triangular windowpane along with the adjacent side windowpane, a cam assembly which is controllably rotated in one direction through a connector element coupled to a pivot shaft of said triangular window and is freed in the opposite direction when said triangular window is in its upper limit position only, and a pull lever adapted to actuate said cam assembly, whereby the opening revolution of said triangular window can be performed by one-touch or single-step operation of said lever, while the closing revolution of said window can be achieved manually either from the inside or from the outside of the car, in which the rotation control for laterally revolving and opening the triangular window at its upper limit position is effected by a joint push operation by an elasticity-imparting ratchet and a check pawl, and in which the transparent panes of the triangular windows and of the side windows adjacent thereto are made of a transparent and rigid synthetic resin material. 

1. A window mechanism for lifting up and down the windowpanes on both sides of a car, in which a triangular windowpane positioned at the side front of a car is coupled, together with an adjacent side windowpane, to a lifting mechanism mounted in a door panel, and said triangular window is arranged pivotable laterally so as to be opened or closed, only when it is in its upper limit position, in which said triangular window is of a frameless construction, and the joined edges of the transparent triangular windowpane and of the adjacent transparent side windowpane are fitted to each other in a stepped edged manner, and in which the transparent panes of the triangular windows and of the side windows adjacent thereto are made of a transparent and rigid synthetic resin material.
 2. A window mechanism for lifting up and down the windowpanes on both sides of a car, comprising a frame having secured thereto the bottom portion a triangular windowpane positioned in front of a side windowpane of a car, said frame being also coupled to a side windowpane holder, a roller assembly abutting on a front run channel, another roller assembly in a rear frame coupled to said holder, said another roller being arranged to abut on a rear run channel, a window regulator operable with a handle to lift up or down said triangular windowpane along with the adjacent side windowpane, a cam assembly which is controlledly rotated in one direction through a connector element coupled to a pivot shaft of said triangular window and is freed in the opposite direction when said triangular window is in its upper limit position only, and a pull lever adapted to actuate said cam assembly, whereby the opening revolution of said triangular window can be performed by ''''one-touch'''' or single-step operation of said lever, while the closing revolution of said window can be achieved manually either from the inside or from the outside of the car, in which the rotation control for laterally revolving and opening the triangular window at its upper limit position is effected by a joint push operation by an elasticity-imparting ratchet and a check pawl, and in which the transparent panes of the triangular windows and of the side windows adjacent thereto are made of a transparent and rigid synthetic resin material. 